Study the effect of COVID-19 on desire of pregnancy among women attending primary health care centers in Basra city

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed COVID -19 as a public Health Emergency on Jan30, 2020 and stated it as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. In addition to the physical health effects of the virus in infected persons, the pandemic is also causing harmful social and mental health effects, which in turn can affect fertility, conception, gestation, and birth. Aim of study: To assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on reproductive health decisions related to childbearing and pregnancy and economic conditions, and family planning during pandemic. Methodology: A cross - sectional study was conducted from 1st of February to 1st of June 2021, a total of 384 females at their reproductive age where interviewed to assess the effect of COVID-19 on their desire of pregnancy. Result: The mean age of the female sample was 30.5 years , quarter of them are of their primary education level, 38% are employed and 89.1% had children and 34.9% having history of abortion,50.8% of participant using contraception before pandemic, while only 9.2 % of contraceptive users were changed the type of contraception during pandemic. About 6.5 % used contraception as a first time during pandemic, while 41.1% think about to get pregnant before pandemic , 48.1% of them were changed their decision and don’t want to get pregnancy ,finally we found that 40% of participant got pregnant during pandemic.